Collapsing Chambers
Collapsing chambers are rooms, caves, or other areas with a ceiling or floor that has partially fallen, entirely fallen, currently falling, or at risk of falling at any moment. They may lead to cave ins that crush the unwary or block passages. Often in narratives a collapsed chamber will mean that characters are trapped until they can find another way out. Fictional collapsed chambers may contain survivors or those that were less fortunate.
| Synonyms: cave-ins, falling roofs |
| Example Mythonyms: the Rubble, Shaft 92 |
Designing Fictional Collapsing Chambers
Archetypes
Overview
Collapsing chambers frequently occur in caves as (cave-ins) and in ruins, were the slightest noise may be enough to bring down the ceiling. These areas may have even been designed in this manner as a trap. Fictional collapsing chambers may offer clues of their imminent change in state – dust and small stones falling from above, creaking support beams, or the sound of grating rock are possibilities.
If the collapse happened long ago, a skeleton may be stuck beneath the rubble.
